AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I glared at him and looked around to see if anyone had heard. Thankfully, no one appeared to be paying any attention.
“Sorry,” Gunnar said apologetically. “But DUDE – ”
“Look, I know it’s hard for you to understand this – but other than you, Dario’s the only friend I have. He had my back the entire time we were in prison. He did everything he could to get me out early, even though it meant putting himself in danger. I trust him with my life. You’re the only other person I trust as much.”
I didn’t add, Although your drug habit tends to make me trust Dario more.
“So, yeah,” I finished. “I’m going to give it a try.”
Gunnar looked at me sideways. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah.”
“…okay,” he said sadly. “Then… congratulations… I guess…”
“Thank you.”
“You know, you can stay here with me as long as you want,” he offered. “I got a bigger place – I’ve even got a guest bedroom you could crash in.”
“Thank you, but I just want to go and start my life again.”
“I hear you. So… you just came to Amsterdam to see me?”
“Yeah – why else would I come?”
Gunnar smiled and teared up a little, then grabbed me around the shoulder in a sideways hug. “My dude.”
113
Istayed overnight in Amsterdam and went out drinking with Gunnar. I didn’t get drunk, though. My bender in London had cured me of ever wanting to get trashed again.
At least, until whatever heartbreaking bullshit came next.
Gunnar asked me about prison and what Dario was like. I told him everything I could – within the bounds of what I knew Dario would want to be kept secret.
After our third beer, I called it a night. Before I caught a taxi to my hotel, Gunnar said, “You know, if it doesn’t work out with the Italians, you can always come back here. I’ll help you out no matter what. You’re always gonna be my brother.”
“Thanks, man,” I said and got a little choked up. I hugged him goodnight and promised to keep him in the loop about what happened.
And then, the next morning, it was time to go.
I caught a 10 AM flight out of Amsterdam. As I boarded the plane, I texted Niccolo that I would arrive in Florence around noon.
The airline didn’t have first-class tickets, but they had business class, so I flew that.
I wouldn’t have ordinarily – business class was three times the price for just a two-hour flight, which seemed ridiculous to me – but I didn’t want to admit to Niccolo that I’d defied him from the very beginning.
As a civilian, I’d never flown anything other than economy before.
As a soldier, I’d flown a lot of missions crammed into the cargo hold of a C130 with a dozen other guys – but since that was far worse than economy seats on an airline, I didn’t count it.
I had to admit, business class was very nice. The way the flight attendants greeted you… then brought you a cocktail before liftoff… the entire experience was top-shelf. I thought to myself on several occasions, I could get used to this.
When I got off the plane, I checked my texts and saw one from Niccolo.
Wonderful! We’ll be expecting you for lunch around 1 PM. Safe travels.
I texted back, Just landed. See you soon.
